Lueders: Locals lose their tower power (column)

11:49 PM,
Mar. 5, 2014

Written by

Bill Lueders
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

It was the perfect piece of land for their dream home. Fifty acres in the town of Rutland, in rural Dane County, a few miles south of Madison. Jessica Polakowski and her husband, Nicholas, closed the deal on Sept. 7, 2010.

Later that same day, Jessica recalls, the couple learned that Magnum Communications, a Tomah-based broadcast company, wanted to erect a nearly 500-foot radio tower on an adjacent plot. The application was filed in November 2010.

The Polakowskis were stunned. The tower would be almost twice as tall as the state Capitol, visible for miles. There would be blinking lights and guy ...